Republican mayoral hopeful Michael Bloomberg’s media company also turned up in the lobbying report, paying $66,757 to Stadtmauer Bailkin, a firm that specializes in securing economic-development funds from governments.

American Airlines, which is building a $1.3 billion terminal at Kennedy Airport, had the biggest single lobbying bill in town last year: $180,000, from longtime political pro Claudia Wagner.

Giuliani called lobbyists a waste of money when his administration’s relationship with the law and lobbying firm of Fischbein Badillo Wagner Harding came under scrutiny a few years ago. Name partner Ray Harding, head of the state Liberal Party, is a close political ally of Giuliani, and Herman Badillo is his former deputy mayor.

But lobbyists say they’ll always be in demand because their expertise and relationships with key city officials are hard to come by.

One of those who’s apparently built a base in the City Council is Robert Dryfoos, a former councilman who provided the deciding vote that propelled Peter Vallone into the powerful speaker’s job more than a decade ago.

Dryfoos collected $205,500 from his five-client roster last year, and every one of them landed a grant from the council during last month’s budget deliberations.

Dryfoos insisted the $3 million-plus he hauled in weren’t paybacks from Vallone, but reflected the strong programs of the nonprofits he represents, such as the NYU Creative Arts Team and the New York Junior Tennis League.